The Lord says, : These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men. Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.

This passage is certainly descriptive of the Pharisees in Jesus’ time. If salvation comes by one way only – Jesus Christ, how can the rules of men be any kind of worship. Only a heart that recognizes its sinfulness, and gratefully receives the gift of salvation can worship.